to a tee (to a T)
idiom

- perfectly, in exactly the right way

Collins Dictionary

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PHRASE ORIGIN

Although there are several theories as to the origin of “to a tee” (it first appeared in the year 1607 in a piece of writing by Francis Beaumont), many scholars believe it derived from the Old English phrase: to a tittle, which meant the same as “to a tee” does today.

Nowadays, “a tittle” refers to a small distinguishing mark, such as a dot or an accent, used in writing or printing. It is most commonly associated with the dot above the lowercase letter 'i' and 'j', which is also known as a "superscript dot" or a "dot diacritic".

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MAJOR MINOR-MARKS!

While it may seem like a minor detail, tittles can have a significant impact on the meaning and readability of written text — the omission or misplacement of a tittle can completely change the pronunciation or meaning of a word.

The word "résumé" is commonly used to refer to a document used in job applications. However, without the tittles on the "e" it becomes "resume", which as you know, is a verb meaning to continue after an interruption.

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SYNONYMS

- exactly or precisely

accurately, bang on (time), completely, conclusively, dead on (time), entirely, errorlessly, every inch, far and away, for certain (sure), from A to Z (beginning to end, first to last, soup to nuts), hands down, heart-and-soul, impeccably, in entirety, in every respect (way, full, sooth, toto, truth), incomparably, incontrovertibly, irrefutably, just right, made to fit, no doubt, no ifs ands or buts, no mistake (question), on all counts (the button, the dot, the money, the nail), one-hundred percent, out-and-out, perfectly suited, right on, slam/slap/smack bang, spot-on, to a hair, to a jot and a tittle, TO A TEE, TO A T, to the fullest extent, to the hilt (limit, max, minute, nth degree, second), unconditionally, unequivocally, unimpeachably, unquestionably, unreservedly, unswervingly, utterly, veridically, veritably

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THANKS to Evelyn for suggesting today's phrase.

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, ask something like:

“How many items in your wardrobe would you say fit you TO A TEE?”

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